Liquid medium returing device for thermometers and the like



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SH EN A. LIQUID MEDIUM RETURNING DEVICE FOR THERMOMETERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 27, 1952 Sept. 27, 1955 2,718,787 Patented 'Sept; 27, 1955 United States Patent ()fiice 2,718,79'1' -HQUID'MEDIUM'RE'FURN1NG DEVICE FOR THERMOMETERS AND THE LIKE Frederick A.Sl1en, Chicago, Ill. 1 I I Application August 27, 1952, Serial Ne. 306,551

6 Claims. c1. 73*373 The invention relates generally to centrifugal devices and more particularly to a device for shaking down the clinical thermometers and the like.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device for'shaking down clinical thermometers adapted to be manually actuated, which is very small and compact so that it may be readily carried in the pocket, and if desired, may be utilized as the permanent case for the thermometer.

Anothenobject of the invention is the production of such' a device which is very simple in construction, inexpensive to-manufacture, and eflicient in operation, as well as being very simple to operate.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a; device which is so designed that maximum centrifugalforce is applied to the thermometer, in corribinatien with counterbalancingmeans which provides smooth and vibrationless operation.

A further object of the invention is the production of such adevice which isprovided with means for cushioning the action of the actuating parts and novel means for locking the actuating member in non=operative position and at the same time retain, the thermometer-holding por-' tion in adesired position whereby maximum compactness i'srachieved.

: Many other objects and advantagesof theco'nstruction hereinshown and'deseribedwill'be obvious to'those'skilled ihutl'ie'art from the disclosure hereingiven.

To this end my invention consists 'in the novel con-- struction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more par'ticularlypointed out in the appended claims.

Iri the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig; l' is'a side-elevational View of a thermometer" shaker embodying the present invention withi'portio'ns of the device illustrated in' section; I

\ zFig. a sectional view takenapproX-iniately on the line 2-"2of'Fig 1 "-Fig: 3 is asec'tional view tak'n appreitfiniatly' on the line ofFi'g. 1; 3

Fig; 4 is a sectional view taken apprenmatly the line 4-4 of Fig. and

ing. s is sectienal view taken afipreximatety on the line 5 tif Fig. 1;

The present invention contemplates giie roduetion of a shit n'g device par iculany adaptedfdr use in snaking down entire-at t-hcr oirieter's oi the like, whichirri ay, if

ds ed, b s-assess a permafienteas'e for the'thr'r'noriieter, theefit'ire'devi'ee being of-sufl iciently small size and shape 'ried' in a packet. The device is enesi'gnea that the operating mechanism is simple, numb-1e atitl-fdlfi'ro'f in eaerafioawiih the opening neenaaiaa berg iiclds'e 'afid prdtecte'd not iri irse. q U u v g o e drawlnglsand more partieuianyte Figs. {2 ,1 indicates generaily-an el ngated hdli'ow b'ddy' ni itiber, which may be constructed of any suitable material, as for example, a suitable plastic or metal, the member 1 in the construction illustrated'comprising a main section 2 and a top or cover section 3, which are securedtogethe'r by any suitable means, as for'example in the embodiment illustrated, by a suitable cement orthe like. The assembled sections as illustrated, form a hollow member, open at one end as indicated at 4. The sec tions 2 and 3 are so shaped that a generally cylindrical chamber 5 is formed in the body, the latter having a passageway 6 therein, which is generally rectangular in transverse cross section, extending from the end 4 to the charii= her 5. The member 1 is also provided with a rectangu larly shaped recess 7, which opens on the other end of the chamber 5.

Suitably mounted in the body 1, adjacent the end 4 thereof is a shaft 8, the latter being carried in bushings 9, if desired, and carried by the shaft 8 intermediate its ends is a pinion 11, the body 1 being formed with a recess 12 therein of a size to accommodate the pinion 11. As illustrated in Figs.- 2 and 4, the recess 12 intersects the passageway 6,- and the size of the pinion 11 is so selected that the teeth 12 thereof extend ihto the passageway 6; The upper end of the shaft 8, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, extends outwardly from the body 1 and is of rectangular cross section as indicated at 13, with the end of the shaft being slotted as indicated at 14.

Positioned in the chamber 5 and passageway 6 is an operating or actuating member 15, which is generally of the same cross sectional shape as the passageway 6, and ofa size to be freely slidable therein. The member 15 is provided with a plurality of rack teeth 16 of a size and shapeto mesh with the teeth 12 of the pinion 11 which extend into the passageway 6,- so that as the member 15 is extendedfrorn and retracted into the body 1, the pinion 11 and shaft 8 will be rotated accordingly. To facilitate the manual actuation of the member 15, the free end of the latter isprovided with a T-shaped gripping 'portion or handle 17 which may be grasped with the fingers, and in like manner, the body 1 is provided With a gripping portion 18,- the latter extending below the body, as viewed in P igs. 1 and 3.;

Mounted on the end 13 of the shaft for rotation'therewith, is a thermometer holder indicated generally by the numeral; 19'. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, theholder 1-9 comprisesa base portion 21 having a rectangl-ilar-shapedopening 22 therein of a size to snugly receive-the correspondingly shaped end 13 of the shaft 18,- whereby the base 21 is frictionally held in position on the shaft. Integrally constructed with the base 21 are a.

pair of arms 2-3'and 24, respectively, which are positioned at opposite sides of the base 21, with the arm 23 beinglonger than the arm 24.- Carried by the arm- 23 is a holl6w tubular case 25 which is preferably transparent;-

having an 'open end 26 adjacent-to the base'2r1; th'e'case 25 being secured to the arm by the ring-like portions 27 and t-he end portion 28 of the arm. The open'eud 26 of the case-25 may be closedby a removable cap 29,

which in the embodiment illustrated comprises aplurality of notches 32 formed along one endof the arm and adapted to receive one or more teeth 33 carried by the weight 31. The tooth 33 is maintained in engagementq with one of the notches by a small leaf spring 34 suitably secured to the weight 31 and engaging the adjacent ease of the and 24. j.

, Fosit'ioried in the chamber 5 and'encircling the adj aceht: portioii'of the member 15 is a coiled spring 35 which is seated at one end on the end wall 36 of the chamber 5, adjacent the passageway 6 with the opposite end of the spring terminating adjacent the central portion of the chamber 5. The free end of the spring 35 is adapted to .be engaged by a circular washer or disc 37, suitably secured to the member 15 in axially fixed relation, following partial extension of the member 1 from the body 1, so thatthe spring will cushion the member as the latter approaches the end of its outward travel.

The inner end of the member 15 terminates in a relatively short shank or stem 38 which is frictionally engageable when the member 15 is fully retracted, with the portion 39 of a generally U-shaped leaf spring 41, the end 42 thereof being secured to the body 1 by a rivet 43 or other suitable means. The portion 39 of the spring 41 is preferably formed with an angular bend and the adjacent portion of the plank or stem 38 is provided with a complementary U-shaped notch 44, into which the cooperable portionof the spring 41 may snap when the member 15 reaches the end of its retracting movement. To operate the device, assuming a thermometer is placed in the case on the holder 19, the body member 1 is held in one hand of the user by means of the portion 18. The portion 17 is grasped in the other hand and is thereby moved outwardly from the body 1, rotating the holder 19 and the thermometer which is placed in the case 25 with the thermometer bulb positioned at the inner end of the case adjacent the portion 28 of the holder. Due to the action of the spring 35, the member 15 will smoothly reach the end of its outward travel without jarring the thermometer, following which the member 15 is moved to a retracted position. Normally one or two reciprocations of the member 15 will be suflicient to satisfactorily shake down the mercury in the thermometer.

It will be apparent that as the axis about which the thermometer is rotated is positioned adjacent the end thereof opposite the bulb rather than near the middle of the thermometer, maximum centrifugal force is exerted on the mercury of the thermometer. The counterweight 31 is suitably adjusted to provide most eifective balance of the rotatable structure resulting in smooth, vibrationless operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the relationship of the holder 19 on the shaft 8 is such that the body member 1 and the holder are locked in substantially a common plane when the member 15 is fully retracted whereby the device when not in use is small and compact, so that the case 25, when provided with a cap 29, may be utilized as a permanent receptacle for the thermometer. Likewise, as the holder 19 is merely frictionally secured to the shaft 8, the holder and case 25 may be readily removed to facilitate cleaning or sterilizing.

To facilitate handling and carrying of the device, a suitable clip 45 may be mounted on the body member 1 whereby the device may be readily clipped to a persons pocket.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a very compact device, which is simple in construction and operation, at the same time providing ample centrifugal force to achieve very eificient results.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for shaking down clinical thermometers and the like, the combination of a hollow body member, a shaft rotatably mounted on said body member, a thermometer holder operatively connected to said shaft and rotatable therewith, said holder being constructed to support a thermometer in a plane extending perpendicular to the axis of said shaft with said axis intersecting the thermometer adjacent one end thereof, an operating member positioned in said body member, said operating member being extendable from and retractable in said body member, cooperable toothed means on said shaft and operating member for transmitting movement of the operating member relative to said body member to said shaft to rotate the latter and the thermometer holder, the respective members being constructed to provide gripping portions by means of which the members may be manually grasped and moved relative to each other to actuate the device.

2. In a device for shaking down clinical thermometers and the like, the combination of an elongated tubularshaped body member open at one end, a shaft rotatably mounted on said body member and extending at right angles to the axis of the latter with one end of the shaft extending outwardly from said body member, a pinion rigidly connected to said shaft and positioned in said body member, an elongated actuating member positioned in said body member and extending outwardly from the open end of the latter, said operating member being axially movable relative to the body member into extended or retracted positions with respect thereto, said operating member having rack teeth thereon engageable with said pinion, a thermometer holder mounted on and rotatable with the free end of said shaft in a plane extending at right angles to the axis of said shaft, 'said holder being positioned principally at one side of said axis, a radially adjustable counterweight rotatable with said shaft positioned at the opposite side of the axis for counterbalancing the thermometer holder, a coiled spring positioned in said body member and operatively related to said actuating member for cushioning the latter at the end of its outward travel, cooperable means on said body member and said actuating member for normally retaining the latter in its retracted position, said thermometer holder being so arranged on said shaft that the axis of the holder and the body member substantially lie in a common plane when the actuating member is in its retracted position, the free end of said actuating member being constructed to provide a gripping portion, by means of which the member may be manually grasped, the body member being provided with a gripping portion by means of which gripping portion the device may be manually actuated.

3. A thermometer shaker as claimed in claim 2 in which said adjustable counterweight is slidable along a notched arm rotatable with said shaft, said counterweight having means engageable with the notched arm to restrict movement of the weight therealong, and spring means for manually maintaining the means on said counterweight in engagement with the arm.

4. A thermometer shaker as claimed in claim 2 in which the cooperable means for manually mounting the actuating member in retracted position comprises a leaf spring carried by said body member which is engageable with the inner end of said actuating member when the latter is in a fully retracted position.

5. A thermometer shaker as claimed in claim 2 in which said thermometer holder is provided with a removable cap whereby the holder forms a permanent case for a thermometer when the latter is not in use.

6. In a device for shaking down clinical thermometers and the like, the combination of an elongated tubularshaped body member open at one end, a shaft rotatably mounted on said body member and extending at right angles to the axis of the latter with one end of the shaft extending outwardly from said body member, a pinion rigidly connected to said shaft and positioned in said body member, an elongated actuating member positioned in said body member and extending outwardly from the open end of the latter, said operating member being axially movable relative to the body member into extended or retracted positions with respect thereto, said operating member having rack teeth thereon engageable with said pinion, a thermometer holder mounted on and rotatable with the free end of the shaft in a plane extending at right angles to the axis of said shaft, said holder being positioned principally at one side of said axis, the free end of said actuating member being constructed to provide a gripping portion, by means of which the member may be manually grasped, the body member being provided with a gripping portion by means of which gripping portion the device may be manually actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

